Seal Actuated or Maintained by Differential Pressure

Abstract

A seal has a tight sealing between a first space and a second space. The second space is at least partially enclosed by a member. The apparatus includes or performs creating or maintaining a pressure difference between a pressure in a third space at a seal assembly and pressure in each of the first space and the second space; and pushing, caused by the pressure difference, against a seal in the seal assembly to tighten sealing provided by the seal.

1 . A method of creating a seal comprising:
 providing a first member having an end with a first opening, and a first wall with a first interior side and first exterior side, wherein the first opening is adapted to accept a second member and the seal is created between the first member and the second member;   placing a first sealing member against the first interior side of the first member a first distance from the first opening;   placing a second sealing member against the first interior side of the first member a second distance from the first opening, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and   forming a second opening in the first wall at a third distance from the first opening, wherein the third distance is between the first seal member and second seal member.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second opening couples to a pressure measuring device. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 inserting the second member into the first member so that the first and second sealing members contact a second exterior side of the second member, thereby forming a sealing space between the first and second sealing members and between the second exterior side of the second member and; and   via the second opening, reducing a pressure the sealing space to a first pressure level.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first opening is circular and the second member is cylindrical. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first sealing member is an O-ring and the second sealing member is an O-ring. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a pump is coupled to the second opening. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first pressure level of the sealing space is less than a second pressure level of a first space contacting the first exterior side of the first member and less than a third pressure level of a second space contacting a second interior side of the second member. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the sealing space forms an annular ring around the second exterior side of the second member. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 forming a third opening in the first wall at a fourth distance from the first opening, wherein the fourth distance is between the first seal member and second seal member;   via the second opening, reducing a pressure of the seal to a first pressure level; and   via the third opening, monitoring the first pressure level of the seal.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 via the second opening, reducing a pressure of the seal to a first pressure level which is higher than a pressure contacting the first exterior side of the first member.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 via the second opening, reducing a pressure of the seal to a first pressure level which is lower than a pressure contacting the first exterior side of the first member.   
   
   
       12 . A seal apparatus comprising:
 an end of the apparatus with a first opening, wherein the first opening is adapted to accept a first member to which the seal apparatus will seal with;   an interior surface of the seal apparatus which extends to the end of the apparatus;   a first groove in the interior surface at a first distance from the end of the apparatus;   a second groove in the interior surface at a second distance from the end of the apparatus, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance;   a first sealing component, positioned in and adapted to fit into the first groove;   a second sealing component, positioned in and adapted to fit into the second groove; and   a second opening in the interior surface of the seal apparatus at a third distance from the end of the seal apparatus, wherein the third distance is between the first and second distances.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  comprising:
 a pump, coupled via a passageway to the second opening.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the second opening is transverse to the first opening. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  comprising:
 a third opening in the interior surface of the seal apparatus at a fourth distance from the end of the seal apparatus, wherein the fourth distance is between the first and second distances.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the first member has a tubular shape. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the first opening is coupled to a first passageway surrounded by the interior surface of the seal apparatus. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the first and second sealing components are O-rings. 
   
   
       19 . A seal apparatus comprising:
 an end of the apparatus with a first opening, wherein the first opening is adapted to accept a first member to which the seal apparatus will seal with;   an interior surface of the seal apparatus which extends to the end of the apparatus;   a groove in the interior surface, the groove extending a first distance from the end of the apparatus to a second distance from the end of the apparatus;   a sealing component, positioned in and adapted to fit into the groove; and   a second opening in the groove of the seal apparatus at a third distance from the end of the seal apparatus, wherein the third distance is between the first and second distances.   
   
   
       20 . The seal apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the sealing apparatus is U shaped.